Is overseas surgery safe? What are the most popular treatments abroad? What do the experts say about surgery abroad? We have the answers to your common questions.

4 minute read

Medical tourism is a relatively new concept, and the term is often splashed across the newspapers with phrases like “Turkey teeth” and “Botched surgery abroad.” But what is the reality behind the sensationalist stories? How many people in the UK are seeking treatment overseas? And is medical tourism safe?

What is medical tourism?

Medical tourism is when patients travel outside their home country with the primary purpose of receiving medical treatment. It commonly involves people from wealthier countries like the USA, Canada or the UK travelling to less developed countries such as Turkey, India or Mexico for cheaper treatment. Medical tourism may also involve travelling to another country for treatment that is illegal or unavailable in your own country.

Medical tourism is on the rise. Lengthy NHS waiting lists in the UK are prompting some patients to pay privately for treatment such as knee and hip replacements abroad, while the rise of social media influencers has led to an increased demand for cosmetic surgery procedures like dental veneers, liposuction and hair transplants.

In 2022, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) estimated that around 348,000 UK residents travelled abroad for medical treatment, more than double the number in 2018 when around 151,609 UK residents sought medical treatment abroad.

Why do people seek medical treatment overseas?

People choose to go abroad for medical treatment or procedures for a variety of reasons, including:

• The cost of the treatment is lower than in their own country

• The treatment or procedure may be unavailable or illegal in their home country

• There may be long waiting lists for the treatment or procedure in their home country

• They may want a specific doctor or surgeon that is based in another country

What countries are the most popular destinations for medical tourism?

According to figures published in UK financial magazine Forbes Advisor, the most searched-for destinations for medical tourism were:

• Turkey (1,344, 058 annual search volume)

• The UK (656, 059 annual search volume)

• Singapore (317,671 annual search volume)

• Philippines (209,902 annual search volume)

• France (74,752 annual search volume)

Other popular destinations for medical tourism include:

• India

• Croatia

• Thailand

• Dubai

• Mexico

• Costa Rica

• Thailand

• Spain

• South Africa

• Hungary

• Malaysia

What are the most popular treatments overseas?

According to figures from Forbes Advisor, the most popular treatments overseas are:

1. Hair transplant

2. Cosmetic dentistry

3. Rhinoplasty (nose job)

4. Breast enhancement (boob job)

5. Lip fillers

6. Gastric band surgery

7. Liposuction

8. Plastic surgery

9. Penis enlargement

Is medical tourism safe?

Despite all the scary headlines, having medical treatment overseas can be a safe and cost-effective option, provided you follow some basic safety guidelines, do plenty of research and are fully informed about the procedure involved.

Whether medical tourism is a safe option for you also depends on factors such as your age, general health, medical history and the type of treatment or procedure you are considering.

The risks

Having any medical procedure comes with an element of risk and travelling overseas for treatment or surgery may increase that risk. Factors such as being out of your home environment, poor quality, unregulated or substandard care, and lack of access to follow-up care may make complications more likely to occur and less likely to be treated effectively.

Since 2019, 28 British nationals have died in Turkey following elective medical procedures, while others have experienced complications and needed further treatment or surgery following their procedure. In February 2023, an outbreak of botulism linked to weight loss treatments was reported in Izmir and Istanbul in Turkey.

Some things to consider before deciding to have treatment abroad include:

• The language barrier — communication is key when undergoing any medical procedure and the language barrier may prevent you from fully understanding what is involved in your treatment and recovery

• Inappropriate or unnecessary treatment — private hospitals are businesses at the end of the day and some unscrupulous healthcare providers may suggest or recommend unnecessary treatments to make more money

• Counterfeit or poor quality medications — some countries don’t adhere to the same standards as the UK when it comes to medications and may use substandard or fake medications which may be ineffective or even harmful

• Antibiotic resistance — antibiotic resistance is a global problem but may be worse in some parts of the world

• Risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) or pulmonary embolism (PE) — having surgery increases your risk of potentially life-threatening blood clots as does air travel, particularly on long-haul flights

• Exposure to blood-borne diseases — if instruments are not sterilised properly, you could be at risk of contracting blood-borne diseases such as HIV and hepatitis

• Risk of exposure to tropical diseases — some countries have high rates of tropical diseases such as malaria, dengue fever, and typhoid fever. Make sure you have all necessary vaccinations before you travel.

What do the experts say about surgery abroad?

Advice regarding medical tourism varies depending on the type of treatment or procedure you are having, but most experts agree that doing as much research as possible into the procedure, hospital, doctor/surgeon and country you plan to visit is essential before booking any kind of treatment or procedure overseas.

Cosmetic surgery

The British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons advises against travelling overseas for any kind of surgery, not just cosmetic. They state that all surgery carries a risk, and that risk is increased by travelling abroad where you may not have access to a reputable surgeon, a safe hospital environment or the necessary aftercare.

Dental treatment

The British Dental Association advise anyone considering dental treatment abroad to conduct thorough research and check the dentist's qualifications and experience as well as whether you are covered by insurance if things go wrong.

Weight loss surgery

The British Obesity and Metabolic Surgery Society advise caution when considering weight loss (bariatric surgery) overseas. Bariatric surgery is a specialist procedure that requires expert care and lifelong support and monitoring. There have been cases of patients with serious complications following bariatric surgery being medically evacuated back to the UK for emergency treatment.

Fertility treatment

The Human Fertilisation and Embryology Authority advises UK residents to do as much research as possible before deciding to have fertility treatment abroad. Fertility treatment in some countries may not be properly regulated as it is in the UK.

What should I look for when choosing to have medical treatment overseas?

Before deciding to have medical treatment or a surgical procedure abroad:

• Discuss your plans with your UK GP, dentist and/or hospital specialist

• Speak to the doctor, surgeon or other health professional who will be responsible for your care overseas directly

• Check the qualifications, references and experience of the healthcare professional who will be performing your procedure independently

• Research your treatment or procedure thoroughly before making a decision. The NHS recommends asking these Travelling Abroad for Medical Treatment Questions before deciding to have any procedure overseas

• Never accept medical advice or recommendations relating to medical tourism from a travel agent or other non-medical administrator

• Check with your GP surgery whether you need any vaccinations or malaria tablets before you travel

• Make sure you take a sufficient supply of any prescription medications and other supplies such as sunscreen, insect repellent, anti-diarrhoea tablets and a first aid kit

• Make arrangements for any aftercare you may need in the UK and find out whether this is available on the NHS or if you need to pay privately

• Make sure you have appropriate travel medical insurance that will cover your costs if anything goes wrong. Standard travel insurance is unlikely to cover planned medical treatment abroad. Your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) or UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) does not cover planned medical treatments abroad.